During class we participated in group experiments. With
the experiment, we were given an array of questions to answer. Making the
energy ball work you must place two fingers on both of the metal contacts on
the energy ball, being able to conduct electricity. This results in current
that makes the ball flash and hum. This works because humans make pretty good
electrical conductors.
There was one question that asked how to make one of two
energy balls light up when one path of the circuit was broken. The solution is
to make a parallel circuit instead of a series circuit. As you may know, there
is a large difference between parallel and series. Before we learn about series
and parallel we need to learn what a circuit is. Stated in the textbook, a
circuit is ‘the path of electric current flow from and to the power supply' (1). A simple circuit includes an energy source, a load and a conductor.
These are pictures of the two types of circuits, series circuit and parallel.
The major differences
in Parallel vs. Series Circuits:
In a
series circuit, all devices are connected in series, which means there is only
one pathway for charge flow. If one of the devices is broken, the circuit is
referred to be an opening circuit and the charge would stop flowing.
In a parallel
circuit, each device is placed in its own branch, which means there are
multiple pathways for charge flow. If one of the devices is broken, other
devices are normally working.
Some individuals
could not make the energy ball work probably due to the dry hands or some
non-conductor on hands, such as hand cream, which could not conduct
electricity. Charges pass through all the conductors from negative to positive
in a circuit. If it is added in a non-conductor, charges could not flow.
Therefore the circuit becomes a opening circuit and the energy ball could not
work.
Self-reflection
From the
experiment, I have learned that human bodies could conduct electricity. Because
of human bodies are mainly made by water and salt [3]. In addition,
I have learned the differences between series circuit and parallel circuit as
well. The major difference of these two circuits is that series circuit has the
only one pathway for electric charge flow, but the parallel circuit has
separate pathways. Also I think, the most important part for studying physics
is the attitude. Even if there are questions that I could not understand, I
have a good attitude which could lead me to find the final solution.
Reference
[1] “Electronics and You”, (2009). Fig - 1: Series Circuit, Retrieved September 10, 2011
from
http://www.electronicsandyou.com/circuit/analog_circuits.html
[2] “Electronics and You”, (2009). Fig - 1: Parallel Circuit, Retrieved September 10, 2011
from
http://www.electronicsandyou.com/circuit/analog_circuits.html
[3] H. A. Harper, V. W. Rodwell, P. A. Mayes
(1977). Review of Physiological Chemistry, 16th ed.,
Lange Medical
Publications, Los Altos, California.
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